A fundraising daredevil has bowed out after serving customers at the Boots pharmacy in Letchworth for more than 40 years.

Ruth Dixon started working as an assistant on the photographic counter at Boots in September 10, 1973, when the store was in Leys Avenue – a year before it moved into the Garden Square, where it is still based.

A farewell tea party was held in her honour on Ruth’s last day – Thursday, March 31 – in the shopping centre’s conference room where members of staff signed her Boots shirt as a memento.

The tea party guests had just under 250 years of combined service for the company.

Ruth, who lives in Letchworth, said: “I have seen many changes during my time here and worked with some lovely people.

“I have also served and helped many customers along the way and can truly say some are now my very good friends.

“During my time at Boots I’ve got married, jumped out of an aeroplane, done sponsored walks and held bingo nights in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

“Before marrying my husband David, my Boots colleagues couldn’t resist snapping up the opportunity to give me a pre-wedding send-off to remember.

“I was dressed in a veil, handed a bouquet of flowers and a lucky horseshoe – and then put in a delivery cage outside the store where I sat accepting congratulations and the good wishes of passing shoppers!”

Garden Square Shopping Centre manager Jack Philbin said: “Ruth was an incredibly valued member of the Boots team and we are all sad to see her go.

“But we wish her much happiness in her retirement and look forward to seeing her around the square as a shopper.”